MLB Wild Card standings: Cubs tighten gap with sweep
National League Division Leaders
NL East
Washington Nationals (55-36, .604)
Washington started the first half strong and built a seemingly insurmountable lead in the division early in the season. Though the team was largely mediocre in June, the Nationals have found their stride again, winning eight of 11 games in July including the first three of the second half against the Reds.
No one in baseball started the second half hotter than Anthony Rendon, who went 7-for-11 over the weekend, homered twice Saturday and once Sunday, and drove in nine runs in three games.
NL Central
Milwaukee Brewers (52-42, .553)
The Cubs gained a little ground in the Central and Wild Card standings, but the Brewers still have a 4.5-game lead in the division after taking two of three games against the Phillies in Milwaukee over the weekend. Travis Shaw connected for home run No. 20 on the season, Brett Phillips hit the first long ball of his career, and Hernan Perez, Orlando Arcia and Ryan Braun also homered in the series.
NL West
Los Angeles Dodgers (64-29, .688)
Simply put, the Dodgers have been best team in baseball this season, and the club shows no signs of slowing down. Los Angeles swept a three-game set in Miami over the weekend to extend its current winning streak to nine.
All-Star Alex Wood earned victory No. 11 on the season with six shutout innings, Kanley Jansen picked up his 22nd and 23rd saves of the season, and Rich Hill improved to 2-0 with a 0.95 ERA in three starts in July. Yasiel Puig homered twice and led the team with four RBI, and rookie Cody Bellinger hit for the cycle. Ho hum.